The ultra-Orthodox Jewish newspaper “Der Tzitung”, edited by the Hasidic community in New York, erased Hillary Clinton from the famous White House picture during the death of Osama bin Laden because the publication of pictures of women is forbidden on their pages.

Besides the U.S. secretary of state, another woman in the “Photoshopped” picture was deleted. It is the American national director of counterterrorism, Audrey Tomasoni, which appears a bit further behind the team in the control room in Washington.

The Hasidic community (also known by the term Chassidic) is one of the Ultra-Orthodox branches of Judaism, and they have their own interpretations of the customs and

Jewish law. A blogger from the Hasidic community posted a picture on his blog and commented that years ago women from the community appeared in newspapers somehow censored, as not to be identified. Now, they are simply erased.

A rabbi heard by CNN said the newspaper do not publish photos of women “because they could be sexually suggestive.”

Sure, taking Hillary Clinton out of the picture can make some news! But I wonder how many other women are simply neglected, excluded or even “Photoshopped” daily in various parts of the world.

I really wonder how we can ensure gender equality and women empowerment in places where not even in newspapers (made for reporting the daily life of the community) women can appear. I think we need to reflect more about the boundaries between protection and exclusion.

::: João Felipe Scarpelini :::

[EN] I'm a full-time dreamer and activist! I engage with passionate and creative people to create tools, opportunities and capacity that empower individuals and their communities to be the change they want to see in the world!

About me…

I'm a full-time dreamer and activist! I engage with passionate and creative people to create tools, opportunities and capacity that empower individuals and their communities to be the change they want to see in the world!